You are invited to attend the HIRA Howe Island Ratepayers Association 

Anual General Meeting Thursday December 10 2020, at 6:30 PM.

_______________________________________________________________   

This meeting will take place on Google Meet which is similar to Zoom. You will be sent the call in details via a separate note which you should add to your calendar. We will open the meeting approximately 10 minutes before start time. Only members of HIRA will be able to vote during the meeting.

Agenda for 2020 Annual General Meeting of HIRA

————————————————————————————–

1.   Welcome

2.   Adoption of the Agenda

3.   Adoption of the Minutes of the HIRA 2019 AGM below this note

4.   Treasurer’s Report

5.   Membership Report

6.   Introduction of Current Board – Jim Mills Chair, Jennifer Medves Vice Chair,  Gary Johnson Treasurer, Sue Byrne  Secretary,  Directors – – Andy Hathaway, Brian Humphrys,  Bill Worona,  and Murray Holtom

7.   Proposed for re-election: Jim Mills, Sue Byrne , Andy Hathaway, Brian Humphrys,   Bill Worona, Jennifer Medves, Gary Johnson,  and Murray Holtom

8.   Nominations from the Floor

9.   Voting for the Slate of Directors

10.   Recap of the Past Year

11.   Questions

12.   Motion to Adjourn

Howe Island Ratepayers Association (HIRA)

 Annual General Meeting (AGM) Minutes

St. Philomena’s Church Hall

 September 12, 2019

Following a presentation by Dr. Kieran Moore on Lyme Disease, Bill Robertson, President, opened the AGM at 9:00 pm. There were approximately 70 people present. 

Bill Robertson welcomed those present to participate and emphasized that HIRA was a community-oriented organization. HIRA would continue to sponsor speaker topics. Members were also encouraged to participate in the Terry Fox Run taking place on Howe Island during the upcoming weekend. Members were encouraged to register or renew their HIRA membership. The membership year is from January 1 to December 31.

Agenda: Accepted – moved by Andy Hathaway, seconded by Jim Mills.

Minutes AGM October 11, 2018: Accepted –  moved by Peter Tucker, seconded by Jim Mills.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer, Peter Tucker, provided an update: revenues of $1410. expenses of $1023.37. The expenses were mainly for management of the Website, hall rentals and printing of brochures.

HIRA ended the year with a bank balance of $5,329.51 June 30 2019.  This consists of an Operating Fund balance of $3,899.56 and a Pancake Breakfast Fund balance of $1,429.95. The Pancake Breakfast Fund balance will be used for recreation projects on Howe Island.

Membership – Membership Coordinator, Andy Hathaway, indicated that there are 111 paid members and 224 e-mail addresses on the distribution  list for correspondence such as the HIRA News Brief.

Executive Nominations – Bill Robertson, President, introduced the current Board Executive Members who would stand to be re-elected: 

Andy Hathaway, Jim Mills, Peter Tucker, Brian Humphrys, Bill Worona & Bill Robertson.

There were two new HIRA board nominees: Jennifer Medves & Sue Byrne.

As there were no nominations from the floor, the vote was unanimous and a new slate of eight HIRA Executives were appointed for 2020.

Past Year Accomplishments – Bill Robertson reported that HIRA’s efforts this past year were primarily focused on the effect of the record high water on island transportation and road maintenance.

HIRA Initiatives included: Municipal All Candidates Meeting, Pitch-in Campaign, HIRA Blast Briefing Notes, Pancake Breakfast, 2019 AGM presentation on Lyme Disease, Representation at Township Council Meetings on Howe Island & Wolfe Island.  Monitoring Township Council Meetings, Appearance before County Council on the limitations posed by the current MTO Ferry system & to advocate for a new & substantially improved means of transportation for Howe Islanders.

Note – specific issues raised @ the County & Township include but are not limited to the following — High Water & Howe Island Residents, Ferry Capacity, Ferry Drive System, Ferry Maintenance Scheduling, Ferry Shut-down Notices, Ferry Stand-by Staffing, Road Conditions & Repairs, Security Lighting, Ferry Traffic Cameras, Garbage Pick-up Schedule & Recycling, Road Signage,

2020 Focus – County Ferry Drive System, Ferry Maintenance Scheduling, Ferry Shut-down Notices, Stand-by Staffing, Security Lighting, Road Maintenance

Continuing Initiatives – Pancake Breakfast, Pitch-in Campaign, HIRA Blast Notices,  

Meeting was Adjourned at 9:30 pm, moved by Peter Tucker, seconded by Jim Mills.

———————————————————————————-

This is a brief note to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council meeting held on Monday, November 9, 2020 on Wolfe Island. The public was provided with a Zoom call-in number to provide an opportunity to listen to the meeting. A number of our HIRA directors called into the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island are highlighted here.

BY-LAW NO.   2020 – 29

By-law to Regulate and Govern the Use of the Lands known as the Howe Island Trail. The by-law was given first and second readings.  There was a change made to the by-law to allow the use of handicap motorized chairs. Howe Islanders will have the opportunity to express their opinion on the by-law at the next council meeting on Howe. Councillor Higgs stated that the by-law was necessary as a few individuals were damaging the trail making it unsafe for others to use the Trail. Here is a link to the by-law.

Taxes

The residents in tax arears has increased to 13% the province recommends that this number should not exceed 10%.

Public works

Howe Island Drive – Township Marine Terminal dock and Shoreline protection project is proceeding on schedule. The work on the shore well and septic system at the foot ferry will be completed as part of the overall project.  Council also authorized the purchase of a trailer to replace the shed at the foot.  The trailer will be kept at the municipal building.

North Shore Road – Proposed construction for 2020 on section from Lower Side road to Howe Island Drive. Agreement has not been reached with the land owner to allow for a watercourse to the river to alleviate drainage issues. The plan is to do some ditching this year. No surface treatment will take place on North Shore Road or Spithead road until next year. 

Garbage tags – there was some issues with residents saying they did not get their tags.  A new process will be developed for 2021 to ensure that every address with a resident house will receive a tag and that no duplicate tags will be issued.

Building inspector will be taking over approval of new septic systems for new home construction from the Health Unit.

Howe Island Flu Clinic

Twelve volunteer Howe Island residents worked collaboratively to offer an influenza clinic on Saturday at the Parish Hall.  Each volunteer, with a specific job from COVID-19 screening, parking, registration, immunization, providing beverages and monitoring residents after their immunization we made sure everyone was safe, well, and kept socially distanced.  Thank you to everyone who made sure we had a smooth safe event.  This clinic was not organized by HIRA but we did assist with communications.

COVID 19—– If you are looking for the latest update on the local state of affairs regarding COVID19, go to kflaph.ca which is the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Health site. Please be a mask wearer where required and practice social distancing. Stay safe Howe Islanders!

howeisland.org   PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of HIRA, thank you for your support. If you are not a member, please consider joining at $10 per year and $100 for life. Yearly membership dues are due on January 1 of each year. If you have paid, thank you. If you have not paid, please send or deliver a cheque payable to HIRA to one of our Directors or place a cheque into the HIRA mailbox at the roadside at the Township Office